Grain cleaner



Feb. 16, 1937. c. SCHNEIDER GRAIN CLEANER Filed May 27, 1935 Patented Feb. 16, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Application May 27, 1935, Serial No. 23,673 In Canada June 2, 1934 5 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in grain separating and cleaning machines and has for its primary object to provide a machine particularly adapted for separating large grains, such as oats, from smaller grains, such as wheat, or vice versa, cleaning the separated grains and delivering them in their separated condition from the machine for sacking.

A further object resides in the provision of attachments for the conventional type of fanning mill which will enable the smaller grains to be separated from the larger grains while the grains pass through the mill, the smaller grains being deflected into and carried by conveyor troughs towards opposite sides of the machine where they may be conveniently smked, while the larger grains pass through the machine and are delivered from one end of the machine for sacking.

Another object of the invention resides in providing an attachment of the above-mentioned character which may be readily adjusted to per mit separation of the larger grains from the smaller grains and both the separated grains delivered from the machine in a condition for sacking, or only the smaller grains may be separated and delivered for sacking, or both the smaller and larger grains may be delivered from the machine in a mixed condition with only the straw, chaff, etc., removed therefrom.

Another object of the invention resides in providing a machine of the above-mentioned character which is simple and durable in construction, reliable and efiicient in operation and inexpensive to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

Fig. 1 is a vertical longitudinal section of a fanning mill with the attachments applied thereto,

Fig. 2 is a detail perspective view of one of the conveyor troughs,

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of the extension for the baffle board,

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of the extension sieve,

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the adjustable deflector board, and,

Fig. 6 is a detail side elevation of the machine showing the relative positions of the deflector board.

In the drawing, wherein for the purpose of illustration, I have shown a preferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral 5 denotes generally a fanning mill of conventional type having a hopper 6 for discharging the grains onto the upper gang of sieves l, which contain perforations of a size to permit wheat grains or other smaller grains to pass therethrough, and beneath the gang of sieves is a tray 8 to receive the grains. The gang of sieves and tray are reciprocably mounted being actuated by arms 0 and I0 connected to a crank on the shaft of the fan II, and upon reciprocation of the sieves and tray the wheat grains are caused to drop over the lower end of the tray.

Referring more particularly to my improvements, a deflector board I2 is pivotally suspended from the gang of sieves I, by means of brackets 13, the board being disposed beneath the discharge end of the tray 8 to receive the grains discharged therefrom. A bar l4 extends 1ongi tudinally of the center of the board l2 being journaled at its ends in the bearings I5 formed integral with the brackets l3. One end of the bar is bent upwardly at right angles to form a a hand lever l6 for oscillating the bar to adjust the position of the deflector board. The lever I6 is held in its adjusted positions by engaging its inwardly bent upper end in openings i'l formed in the sides of the frame of the gang of sieves. By swinging the board l2 to incline forwardly, the grains discharged from the tray are deflected into the inclined conveyor troughs l8 extending from the center of the machine beneath the tray towards opposite sides of the machine. The troughs are supported by a bracket l9 which connects with the center of the bar M by a bearing 20 which is disposed in an opening 20 in the center of the board 12. The bracket I9 is also connected to the cross bar 2| on the bottom of the tray 8 and the outer ends of each trough are connected by arms 22 to the gang of sieves. Discharge chutes 23 are connected to the outer ends of the troughs for directing the grains into bags. A baflle board 24 is removably mounted beneath the gang of sieves in a position, so that when the deflector board is adjusted to incline rearwardly the grains discharged from the tray are deflected by the deflector board onto the baffle board and from there through the blast of air from the fan ll onto the lower shaking screen 25 which is inclined downwardly towards the front of the machine.

An extension sieve 26, shown more clearly in Fig. 4, is designed for attachment to the lower end of the uppermost sieve of the gang 1, being attached thereto by bars 2! extending from the corners of the sieve 26 which are attached to the sides of the sieve l, by suitable fasteners. The sieve 26 is provided with perforations 28 of a size to permit larger grains, such as oats, to pass therethrough, while the straw and chaff, etc., are discharged over the end of the extension sieve. The grains which pass through the extension sieve 26 are directed by the extension 29 on the baflle board 24 through the blast of air onto the lower screen 25. The extension 29,

shown more clearly in Fig. 3, is removably attached to the main board 24 by arms 30 extending from the longitudinal edge of the extension and engage over the edge of the board. The confronting edge of the extension 29 has a flange 3| which overlaps the board 24. Beneath the baffle board 24 is the conventional baflle board 32 disposed in the path of the blast of air from the fan which prevents the oats from being blown out of the machine while the dirt, dust and other light substances are being removed by the blast of air.

In operation, when it is desired to separate wheat grains from oat grains and deliver the separated grains from the machine in separate batches for sacking, the grains are deposited in the hopper 6 from which they flow onto the gang of sieves I. The smaller wheat grains pass through the sieves onto the tray 8, from which they are discharged at the lower end. By adjusting the deflector board l2 so that it inclines downwardly towards the conveyor troughs 18, the wheat grains discharged from the tray are deflected into the troughs which convey the grains to opposite sides of the machine, where they may be sacked. During this operation the larger oat grains are carried over the gang of sieves l' onto the extension sieve 26 through which they pass, dropping onto the bafile board 24 which directs the grains downwardly through the blast of air from the fan ll onto the lower shaker screen 25 which discharges the oat grains at the front of the machine where they may be sacked.

When it is desired to only separate and clean the wheat grains from the oat grains and chair, the deflector board I2 is swung on its axis by the lever l6, so as to incline downwardly towards the baffle board 24 and the extension 29 is removed therefrom. When the wheat grains are discharged from the tray 8 they are directed by the deflector board towards the baffle board 24 which diverts the grains through the blast of air onto the screen 25 and the grains are discharged from the screen at the front of the machine. The oats, chaff, and other foreign substances pass over the end of the gang of sieves 1 and does not pass through the machine. If it is desired to have mixed wheat and oat grains the extension 29 is left in place and the oat grains will be deflected into the stream of wheat grains passing through the machine and deposited therewith onto the screen 25.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A grain cleaner comprising a frame, a gang of sieves mounted reciprocably in the upper portion of said frame adapted to permit smaller grains as wheat to pass therethrough, an extension sieve secured to the lower end of the top member of the gang of sieves and having openings to permit larger grains as cats to pass therethrough, a screen mounted in the lower portion of said frame, means for causing a blast of air to pass through the space between said gang and said screen, a conveyor to carry aside the smaller grains having passed through the gang of sieves, a removable bafile adapted to direct the larger grains having passed through the extension sieve through the blast of air onto said screen and means whereby the smaller grains may be directed either into said conveyor or into the stream of larger grains.

2. A grain cleaner comprising a frame, a gang of sieves mounted reciprocably in the upper portion of said frame adapted to permit smaller grains as Wheat to pass therethrough, an extension sieve secured to the lower end of the top member of the gang of sieves and having openings to permit larger grains as oats to pass therethrough, a screen mounted in the lower portion of the frame, means for causing a blast of air to pass through the space between said gang and said screen, a conveyor to carry aside the smaller grains having passed through the gang of sieves, a removable baffle adapted to direct the larger grains having passed through the extension sieve through the blast of air onto said screen, and a movable deflector board rotatably mounted at its ends and centre, such board being adjustable in such manner as to direct the smaller grains either into said conveyor or into the stream of the larger grains thereby rendering the machine adaptable to change from the cleaning of coarse grains to the cleaning of wheat, or vice-versa, at the will of the operator without the necessity of stopping the operation of the machine.

3. A machine of the character described comprising an upper set of sieves adapted to separate smaller grains from larger grains, a lower screen, means for directing a blast of air between the upper set of sieves and lower screen, an extension sieve attached to the lower end of the top sieve member adapted to pass the larger grains, conveyor troughs disposed beneath said set of sieves and an adjustable deflector board for directing the smaller grains discharged from said sieves into said troughs or into the stream of larger grains passing through said extension sieve.

4. A machine of the character described comprising an upper set of sieves adapted to separate smaller grains from larger grains, a lower screen, means for directing a blast of air between the upper set of sieves and lower screen, an extension sieve attached to the lower end of the top member of said set of sieves, adapted to pass the larger grains, conveyor troughs disposed beneath said set of sieves, a bafiie board for diverting the larger grains passing said extension sieve through said blast of air and onto said lower screen and an adjustable deflector board for directing the smaller grains discharged from said set of sieves into said troughs or into the stream of larger grains passing through said extension sieve.

5. A machine of the character described comprising an upper set of sieves adapted to separate smaller grains from the larger grains, a tray beneath said sieves to receive the smaller grains, a lower screen, means for directing a blast of air between the tray and lower screen, a pair of conveyor troughs suspended beneath said tray and extending towards opposite sides thereof, a deflector board pivotally suspended beneath the discharge end of said tray, and means for oscillating said deflector board to direct the grains discharged from said tray into said conveyor troughs or into the stream of larger grains passing through said extension sieve.

CHRISTIAN SCHNEIDER. 

